Charles Kimbrough, ‘Murphy Brown’ Star, Dies at 86

Charles Kimbrough, a stage and display screen actor finest recognized for his efficiency as anchorman Jim Dial on the CBS comedy collection “Murphy Brown,” died Jan. 11 in Culver Metropolis, Calif. He was 86 years previous.

Kimbrough’s loss of life was confirmed to the New York Times by his son, John Kimbrough.

A celebrated theater actor who earned a Tony Award nomination for his efficiency as Harry within the unique 1970 Broadway manufacturing of the Stephen Sondheim musical “Firm,” Kimbrough’s abilities reached the mainstream within the late-’80s, starring alongside Candice Bergen on the newsroom sitcom “Murphy Brown.” Kimbrough earned an Emmy nomination for excellent supporting actor in a comedy collection in 1990 for the present’s second season.

Kimbrough performed the comically conservative Jim Dial all through the unique run of “Murphy Brown,” serving as a foremost solid member for all 10 seasons. He later reprised the position for a handful of episodes within the 2018 revival of the collection.

Born Might 23, 1936 in St. Paul, Minn., Kimbrough was largely raised in Highland Park, In poor health., close to Chicago. He majored in music and theater at Indiana College, later receiving a grasp’s on the Yale Faculty of Drama.

Kimbrough’s breakthrough as an actor got here with the unique manufacturing of “Firm.” He appeared as two characters in Sondheim’s later musical, “Sunday within the Park With George,” which opened in 1984. Different notable stage credit embrace “Candide,” “Similar Time, Subsequent 12 months,” “Accent on Youth” and “The Service provider of Venice.” Extra lately, Kimbrough featured alongside Jim Parsons within the 2012 revival of “Harvey.”

Kimbrough additionally featured within the 1996 animated movie “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” voicing the gargoyle Victor.

In 1991, Kimbrough divorced his first spouse, Mary Jane (Wilson) Kimbrough. In 2002, he married Beth Howland, a fellow actor who featured reverse him in “Firm” and featured within the ’70s comedy collection “Alice.” Beth Howland died in 2016.

Along with his son, Kimbrough is survived by his sister, Linda Kimbrough, and his stepdaughter, Holly Howland.